Hyperaemic colour duplex scanning for the detection of aortoiliac stenoses. A comparative study with intra-arterial pressure measurement.
OBJECTIVE
Intra-arterial pressure measurement is considered the "gold standard" for the haemodynamic evaluation of aortoiliac lesions. When compared to pressure measurement duplex scanning fails to detect some of the haemodynamically significant lesions. To improve the assessment of the haemodynamic significance of these lesions by duplex scanning, the flow-related duplex parameters delta PSV and EDV at rest and after exercise were compared with intra-arterial pressure gradients before and during increased blood flow.


METHODS
Forty-five aortoiliac segments with an isolated stenosis were studied prospectively. Doppler samples were taken at the site of the stenosis both at rest and after exercise on a bicycle ergometer, followed by intraarterial pressure measurement at rest and during pharmacologically induced increased blood flow.


RESULTS
At rest a delta PSV (delta PSVr) of 1.6 m/s showed a sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 88%, respectively. After exercise a delta PSV (delta PSVe) of 1.6 m/s showed a sensitivity of 100% at the cost of only a slight reduction in specificity when compared to delta PSVr. The end diastolic velocity at rest (EDVr) had only limited clinical value. The EDV after exercise (EDVe) provided important information if the velocity was 0.5 m/s or lower or if the velocity was 1.6 m/s or greater.


CONCLUSIONS
The delta PSV and the EDV after exercise can be of value in the assessment of the haemodynamic significance of aortoiliac stenoses.
Elsman
B H
BH
Department of Vascular Surgery, Utrecht University Hospital, The Netherlands.
Legemate
D A
DA
de Vos
H J
HJ
Mali
W P
WP
Eikelboom
B C
BC
D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005080:Exercise Test; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*